[Thanks to Dr Anthony Fincham and the Thomas Hardy Society both for the ceremony and for encouraging the inclusion of this program in The Victorian Web. Especial thanks are due Westminster Abbey and its clergy for their part in the wreath laying.]

Welcome

Good afternoon and on behalf of the Dean and Chapter of
Westminster Abbey, a very warm welcome to the members and
friends of the Thomas Hardy Society. We are gathered here to
remember Thomas Hardy upon the anniversary of his death in 1928,
to give thanks for the variety of his work, especially in this year
which marks the 120th anniversary of the publication of Tess of the
d'Urbervilles and to lay a wreath of Stinsford Yew upon the grave
containing his ashes.

Thanks and Short Address

Dr Anthony Fincham will thank the Dean and Chapter on behalf of
the Thomas Hardy Society and will say a few words about Thomas
Hardy and this anniversary year.

That with this bright believing band
I have no claim to be,
That faiths by which my comrades stand
Seem fantasies to me,
And mirage — mists their Shining Land,
Is a strange destiny.

Why thus my soul should be consigned
To infelicity,
Why always I must feel as bund
To sights my brethre see,
Why joys they've found I cannot find,
Abides a mystery.

Since heart of mine knows not that ease
Which they know; since it be
That He who breaths All's Well to these
Breathes no Alps — Well to me,
My lack might move their sympathies
And Christian charity!

I am like a gazer who should mark
An inland company
Standing upfingered, with, 'Hark! Hark!
The glorious distant sea!'
And feel, 'Alas, 'tis but yon dark
And wind — swept pine to me!'

Yet I would bear my shortcomings
With meet tranquillity,
But for the charge that blessed things
I'd liefer not have be.
O, doth a bird deprived of wings
Go earth — bound wilfully!

Enough. As yet disquiet clings
About us. Rest shall we.

The Collect for the Day (2nd Sunday of Epiphany)

Let us pray:

Almighty God, in Christ you make all things new: transform the
poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal
of our lives make known your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.

I leant upon a coppice gate
When Frost was spectre — gray,
And Winter's dregs made desolate
The weakening eye of day.
The tangled bine — stems scored the sky
Like strings of broken lyres,
And all mankind that haunted nigh
Had sought their household fires.

The land's sharp features seemed to be
The Century's corpse oudeant,
His crypt the cloudy canopy,
The wind his death — lament.
The ancient pulse of germ and birth
Was shrunken hard and dry,
And every spirit upon earth
Seemed fervourless as I.

At once a voice arose among
The bleak twigs overhead
In a full — hearted evensong
Of joy illimited;
An aged thrush, frail, gaunt, and small,
In blast — beruffled plume,
Had chose thus to fling his soul
Upon the growing gloom.

So little cause for carolings
Of such ecstatic sound
Was written on terrestrial things
Afar or nigh around,
That I could think there trembled through
His happy good — night air
Some blessed Hope, whereof he knew
And I was unaware.

Prayer for Thomas Hardy

O God our Father, who through the ages has caused poets and
writers to perceive the world afresh, enthral and provoke us to
thought, reflection and wonder; and to explore the richness and
diversity of our common human nature; at this time we thank you
for your servant Thomas Hardy, remembering him with joy,
gratitude and affection, giving thanks for the perception, the
insight and the keen observation of his literature, through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen

I would that folk forgot me quite,
Forgot me quite!
I would that I could shrink from sight,
And no more see the sun.
Would it were time to say farewell,
To claim my nook, to need my knell, i
Time for them all to stand and tell
Of my day's work as done.

Ah! Dairy where I lived so long,
I lived so long;
Where I would rise up staunch and strong,
And lie down hopefully.
Twas there within the chimney — seat
He watched me to the clock's slow beat—
Loved me, and learnt to call me Sweet,
And whispered words to me.

And now he's gone; and now he's gone;...
And now he's gone!
The flowers we potted perhaps are thrown
To rot upon the farm.
And where we had our supper — fire
May now grow nettle, dock, and briar,
And all the place be mould and mire
So cozy once and warm.

And it was I who did it all,
Who did it all;
Twas I who made the blow to fall
On him who thought no guile.
Well, it is finished—past, and he
Has left me to my misery,
And I must take my Cross on me
For wronging him awhile.

How gay we looked that day we wed,
That day we wed!
"May joy be with ye!' they all said
A — standing by the durn.
I wonder what they say o'us now,
And if they know my lot; and how
She feels who milks my favourite cow,
And takes my place at churn!

It wears me out to think of it,
To think of it;
I cannot bear my fate as writ,
I'd have my life unbe;
Would turn my memory to a blot
Make every relic of me rot,
My doings be as they were not,
And gone all trace of me!

The wreath laying

He said: 'Awake my soul, and with the sun,'...
And paused upon the bridge, his eyes due east,
Where was emerging like a full — robed priest
The irradiate globe that vouched the dark as done.

It lit his face — the weary face of one
Who in the adjacent gardens charged his string,
Nightly, with many a tuneful tender Aing,
Till stars were weak, and dancing hours outrun.

And then were threads of matin music spun
In trial tones as he pursued his way:
This is a morn,' he murmured, 'well begun:

This strain to Ken will count when I am clay!'
And count it did; till, caught by echoing lyres,
It spread to galleried naves and mighty quires.

Prayer for writers

O God, who by your Spirit in our hearts, leads men and women
to desire your perfection, to seek for truth and to rejoice in
beauty; illuminate and inspire, we beseech you, all writers and
poets, artists and craftsmen, that in whatsoever is true and pure
and lovely, your name may be glorified. Amen

Surview — Read by Mrs Helen Lange

"Cogitavi vias meas"

A cry from the green — grained sticks of the fire
Made me gaze where it seemed to be:
Twas my own voice talking therefrom to me
On how I had walked when my sun was higher —
My heart in its arrogancy.

"You held not to 'whatsoever was true,"
Said my own voice talking to me:"Whatsoa'er was just you were slack to see;
Kept not things lovely and pure in view,"
Said my own voice talking to me.

"You slighted her that endureth all,"
Said my own voice talking to me;"Vaunteth not, trustcth hopefully;
That suffereth long and is kind withal,'
Said my own voice talking to me.

"You taught not that which you set about,"
Said my own voice talking to me;"That the greatest of things is Charity..."
— And the sticks burnt low, and the fire west out,
And my voice ceased talking to me.

The Lord's Prayer and Blessing

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy
kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven. Give
us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we
forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into
temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the
power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

God grant to the living, grace; to the departed, rest; to the Church,
the Queen and the Commonwealth and all people, peace and
concord, and to us sinners, life everlasting. And the blessing of
God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be with
you and remain with you, today and for evermore. Amen

The Thomas Hardy Society
PO Box 1438
Dorchester
Dorset
DT11YH

Tel. 01305 251501
www.hardysociety.org

The poems are taken from Gibson, James (ed) 2001 Thomas Hardy The Complete Poems Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan